Hand gun stock



April 14, 1964 Filed Feb. 23, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR 6 45 STEVEN J. HERRETT ATTORNEY April 14, 1964 HAND GUN STOCK Filed Feb. 23. 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6'0 STEVEN I. 'HERRETT ATTORNEY $.41. H-ERRETT 3,128,571

April 14, 1964' S. J. HERRETT HAND GUN STOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb, 23, 1962 INVENTOR STEVEN- J. HERRETT ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,128,571 HAND GUN S'IGCK Steven J. Herrett, Box 741, Twin Falls, Idaho Filed Feb. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 175,032 14 Claims. (CI. 42-71) The present invention relates to improvements in hand gun stocks for pistols and revolvers of the target type, and more particularly to hand gun stocks which can be adjusted to fit the hand of the user and marksman with proper compression from the heel of the hand to the finger tips.

One object of the invention is to provide a hand gun grip or pair of stocks for target type pistols and revolvers which can readily be adjusted so that when gripped by the marksman will make the gun feel as though it is an actual extension of the hand, and so that there is a complete absence of strain or cramp when the gun is held with the usual gripping force.

Another object is to provide a pair of hand gun stocks of the target type having a laterally extending flanged projection which can be adjusted relative to the end of the stocks to snugly engage the edge portion of the marksmans hand.

Another object is to provide a pair of hand gun stocks of the above type having a laterally projecting flanged member which is adjustably secured to one of the stocks to permit the same to be adjusted in a longitudinal direction and toward and away from the upper and lower ends of the hand gun stock.

Another object is to provide a pair of hand gun stocks for use in connection with semi-automatic pistols especially designed for formal target matches at the prescribed ranges in accordance with accepted rules.

Another object is to provide a pair of hand gun stocks which includes an adjustable flanged member adapted to engage the lower portion of the marksmans palm to exert the correct pressure on the grip when the gun is held extended and so that the gun will remain in the same position and substantially unchanged from shot to shot.

Another object is to provide a pair of hand gun stocks of the target type for revolvers and the like having a laterally projecting flanged member adjustably secured to one of the stocks and adapted to engage the upper portion of the marksmans hand to prevent the grip from sliding downward in the grip resulting from recoil and jump created by the twist of the rifiing and the recoil from discharge.

Another object is to provide a pair of target type hand gun stocks which can readily be adjusted to provide a tailored custom hand grip for semi-automatic pistols and revolvers and which can be adjusted by the individual marks-man to fit his hand and conform to the dimensions thereof without requiring custom fitting and the use of different hand impression devices usually employed in the production of custom tailored hand gun stocks.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the hand gun stock fitted to a target type pistol and showing the right hand stock in place thereon.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE l, but showing the left hand stock attached to a pistol of the target type.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows on line 33 of FIGURE 2 and showing the manner in 'which the adjustable flanged member is secured to the right hand section of the hand gun stocks.

3,128,571 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view illustrating the shape and contour of the hand gun stocks removed from the pistol and illustrating the flanged member and its peculiar curvature to conform to the lower edge of the marksmans palm and hand as well as the little finger FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational View of the hand gun stocks showing the manner in which the flanged member encircles the rear portion of the stocks to engage and compress the marksmans hand in the region of the heel of the hand when the stocks are properly gripped.

FIGURE 6 is an interior elevational view of the right hand section of the hand gun stocks showing the manner in which the same is inletted and illustrating the clamping plate for adjustably securing the palm engaging flange member in a predetermined adjusted position.

FIGURE 7 is an interior elevational view of the left hand section of the hand gun stocks showing the manner in which the same is inletted and shaped to fit the frame of the hand gun such as the target pistol illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention showing the flanged member adjustably secured to the upper portion of a pair of custom pistol grips or stocks.

FIGURE 9 is a rear elevational view of the hand gun stocks showing the same detached from the revolver and illustrating the manner in which the flanged member is secured in place by means of a clamping plate, and

FIGURE If) is a top plan view of the flanged member showing the same adjustably attached to the right hand section of the hand gun stocks.

In the drawings, and more in detail, attention is first directed to the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 7 inclusive, and in FIGURES 1 and 2 there is shown a target type hand gun or pistol generally designated 10 and which is actually shown as an Olympic Model manufactured by the Hi-Standard Manufacturing Company. The hand gun is of the semi-automatic type and includes a frame 11 having a barrel 12 and a grip frame 13 (FIGS. 1 and 3) having ways for receiving the slide 14. A trigger guard 15 being formed in the frame structure for the trigger 16. A slide catch 18 is provided for holding the slide 14 in its open position when the magazine has been fully discharged.

The invention comprises a pair of hand grip stocks generally designated 20 which are adapted to be secured to the grip portion of the frame 13. The hand gun stocks are comprised of a right hand section 21 and a left hand section 22. The right hand section 21 is inletted as at 23 to fit the back strap portion of the frame 13 and is further inletted as at 24 to conform to the rear portion of the trigger guard 15. The upper portion of the right hand section 21 is cut away as at 25 to accommodate the slide catch 18 and the rear portion of the section 21 is ribbed as at 26 to extend over a portion of the back strap or grip frame 13.

The other section of the hand gun stock 22 is reversely shaped and is inletted as at 30 to provide a rib portion 31 extending over the remainder of the rear of the grip frame 13 and in mutually engaging contact with the rib or flange 21. The grip portion 22 is inletted as at 33 to receive the rear portion of the trigger guard 15 and projections 34 and 35 on the sections 21 and 22 extend under the trigger guard for a slight distance to provide a finger rest portion. The upper portion of the section 22 is cut away as at 38 to accommodate the usual safety 40 shown in FIGURE 2.

The hand gun sections 21 and 22 are secured to the grip portion of the frame 13 (FIG. 3) by suitable threaded fasteners which extend through openings 39 and 40 in the respective sections 21 and 22 and a threaded fastener (not shown) extends through the sections 21 and 22 when they are arranged in place on the frame 13 as well as through an opening in a portion of the frame. One or the other of the sections is provided with a threaded sleeve for receiving the threaded end of the threaded through fastener. This structure is conventional and need not be described.

The upper portion of the hand grip section 21 is provided with a projection 42 which extends laterally and provides a rest for the index finger, the end of which extends into the trigger guard and is presented to the trigger 16. Usually, the frame 13 is so shaped as to provide a well curved portion for receiving the V-notch between the marksmans thumb and forefinger which limits the downward movement of the hand gun in the users grip during firing. The surface beneath the projection 42 forms an abutment for the marksmans second finger when the grip is taken and the fingers extend around the front of the hand gun stocks. The left hand section 22 is provided with an external arcuately curved thumb rest portion 44 and when the right and left hand sections 21 and 22 are assembled on the frame grip 13 and held in place by an assembly screw 43 the projections 34 and 35 abut as shown in FIGURE 4, while the flanges 26 and 31 extend across the rear portion of the grip frame as shown in FIGURE and abut at this point. By tightening the assembly screw 43 the right and left hand sections of the hand gun stock is tightened to the grip portion of the frame 13 and are securely held in place.

The adjustable flange member for engaging the edge of the marksmans hand includes a C-shaped member 45 (FIG. 3) which tapers to a point as at 46 and embraces the left hand section 22 along the rear edge thereof, While the other end is slightly tapered as at 47 and embraces the rear portion of the hand gun stocks and overlaps the flanges 26 and 31 thereof. The lower surface 48 of the adjustable stock member 45 is substantially flat and extends in a plane normal to its axis, while the upper surface is shaped as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 to provide a concave portion 49 which is dished slightly to conform to the lower portion of the marksmans hand in the palm area as well as conforming to the curvature of the little finger of the marksman when the flanged member 45 is adjusted to its proper position.

The flanged member 45 is adjustably secured to the right hand stock section 21 by means of a pair of adjusting screws 52 which extend through parallel bores 53 for receiving the enlarged head portions 55 of the screws 52. The bores being suitably countersunk as at 56. The inner ends of the screws 52 extend through parallel slots 57 in the lower portion of the right hand stock section 21 and are threadedly received in correspondingly threaded openings 53 in a clamping plate 59. The inner surface of the right hand stock section 21 is recessed as at 60 to permit the clamping plate 59 to be adjusted toward and away from the laterally projecting flange 42 adjacent the upper portion of the right hand stock section 21.

In operation, the right and left hand sections of the hand gun stock are secured firmly to the grip portion 13 of the pistol by means of the assembly screw 43 and the marksman grips the pistol in the conventional manner with the heel of the palm extending across the rear portion of the grip and the thumb resting upon the thumbpiece 44 and the index finger above the projecting flange 42 and presented into the trigger guard 15. When the hand gun is so gripped the second finger engages the underside of the projection 42 and the flanged member 45 is then moved upwardly into contactual engagement with the lower edge of the marksmans hand so that the curvature thereof is received in the dished portion 49 of the laterally projecting flange 45. While held in this position the marksman then inserts a screw driver or the like into the counterbored portions 56 which extend inwardly from the outer edge of the flanged member and tightens the screws 52 so that their inner ends will be threaded in the openings 53 of the clamping plate 59 and the right hand section 21 of the stock will be clamped between the curved surface 62 of the flanged member 4'5 and the clamping plate 59. In this position, the curved outer portion 63 of the flanged member will extend outwardly and upwardly along the lower edge of the marksmans hand and will provide a comfortable grip without straining muscles of the hand and wrist while assuming a shooting position.

The laterally extending projection 45 can thus be adjusted to any predetermined position with respect to the abutment 42 and can be adjusted from time to time for various climatic conditions and to provide a comfortable grip and hand gun stock under all conditions.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 8 to 10 inclusive, there is illustrated a revolver generally designated 7% having a grip frame portion 71 and the usual trigger guard '72 protecting the trigger '73. The hand gun stock includes right and left hand sections 74 and 75 respectively which are inletted to receive the grip portion of the frame 71 and the left hand section is shaped to provide a thumb rest 76. The right and left hand sections 74 and 75 are secured to the grip portion of the frame 71 by the usual assembly screw 77.

The upper portion of the right hand section 74 is provided with a laterally extending flange member 78 which is arcuately curved in both directions to provide a curved surface 79 (FIG. 8) extending longitudinally to engage the upper edge of the marksmans hand, and the underside of said lateral flange 78 is curved in a direction at right angles to the curvature 79 as shown at St) in FIGURE 9, so as to embrace or overhang the upper edge of the marksmans hand. The rear portion of the projection 78 is curved in a horizontal plane as at 81 to extend in back of the back strap of the revolver and form an abutment for the V-notch between the thumb and forefinger of the marksmans hand. The inner surface 82 of the lateral projection 7 8 is shaped to conform to the curvature of the hand grip section 74, and is adapted to be secured thereto by means of clamping screws 54 which are mounted in bores 85 in the lateral projection 78 and have their inner ends received in correspondingly threaded openings 86 in a clamping plate $7. Thus, the clamping screws 34 may be adjusted in slotted openings 89 formed in the right hand section 74. When adjusting the laterally projecting flange 78 the screws 84 are loosened and then the lateral projection 78 is moved upwardly or downwardly to the desired predetermined position and the screws 84 are then tightened in place to securely clamp the curved surface 82 of the lateral projecting flange member 78 to the right hand grip section 74 of the custom stocks.

The internal surface of the right hand stock section 74 is cut away to provide a recess for the purpose of slidably accommodating the clamping plate 87 as shown in FIG- URE 10. The recess is trapezoidal shaped similar to the recess 60 shown in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 7 inclusive.

In operation, the laterally extending hand conforming member 7 8 is adjusted to the desired position and the clamping screws 84 are tightened by inserting a screw driver in counterbored portions of the bores 35. The bores 85 being spaced a distance equal to the parallel spacing of the slots 39 to permit the arcuately curved laterally extending hand engaging flange member to be adjusted to any desired predetermined position.

In both forms of the invention the laterally extending adjustable flange member is shaped to provide an inner curved surface which substantially conforms to the curvature of the right hand stock, and the outer portion 63 in FIG. 3 and 78 in FIG. 8 are well curved and rounded to present a pleasing and aesthetic effect and to eliminate any sharp surfaces or corner edges which would be liable to engage obstructions during formal target matches and the like. While the laterally projecting flange member 45 in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 inclusive is more or less C-shaped in elevation, it is noted that the laterally extending hand engaging extension 78 shown in FIGURES 8 to 10 inclusive is of somewhat crescentshape, but in both forms of the invention the inner surface is arcuately curved to conform to the curvature or contour of the right hand section of the handgun stocks and thus provides relatively large mutually engaging arcuately curved contact surfaces when clamped together by the clamping screws 52 in FIGURE 3 and 85 in FIG- URE 8.

As shown in FIGURE 3 a slight clearance is provided between the front and back portions of the stock and the flanged member 45 to permit the same to be slightly rocked or tilted about an axis normal to the clamping plate, and since this slight clearance exists and there is also slight play between the screw and slot connection 52--57 the flange member can be tilted and adjusted to the correct pitch according to the marksmans grip and hand contour.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the invention, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a stock for hand guns having a grip receiving frame portion, a pair of opposed stock members having external hand conforming surfaces, at least one of said stock members being provided with a pair of longitudinally extending spaced parallel slotted openings, fastener members for securing said stock members to said frame portion, a laterally extending hand engaging flange adjustably secured to one of said stock members, and male and female threaded fastener elements with the male fastener elements extending through apertures in said flange and through each of said slotted openings to secure said flange in an adjusted position.

2. In a stock for hand guns having a grip receiving frame portion, opposed stock members secured to said frame portion, said stock members being provided with external curved surfaces to conform to the hand, at least one of said stock members being provided with a pair of spaced parallel slotted openings, a laterally extending flange having a curved surface adapted to conform to the curvature of one of said stock members, said flange being provided with spaced apertures adapted to register with said openings, and threaded male and female fa tener elements with the male elements extending through said openings and apertures to adjustably secure said flange in an adjusted position.

3. In a stock for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to the sides of said grip portion, said stock members being curved in a direction normal to their longitudinal axis, at least one of said stock members being provided with a pair of spaced parallel slotted openings a laterally extending abutment flange having a portion to engage the heel of the hand and adjustably secured to one of said stock members, said abutment flange having a surface to conform to the curved surface of said stock member said flange having a pair of spaced apertures corresponding to the position of said slotted openings, and male and female threaded fastener elements with the male elements extending through said apertures and slotted openings to adjustably lock said flange in a selected position.

4. In a stock for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members having inletted surfaces to receive said grip portion, a fastener for securing said stock members to said grip portion, said stock members being curved to form a hand grip and at least one of said stock members being provided with a pair of spaced parallel slotted openings, a laterally extending flange adjustably secured to one of said stock members having spaced apertures adapted to register with said openings, said flange being curved to provide a surface to conform to the heel portion of the hand when the stock is gripped therein, and male and female threaded fastener elements with the male elements extending through the apertures and slotted openings to adjustably secure said flange to its corresponding stock member, the female threaded fastener elements being received in a recess on the rear surface of said stock member.

5. In a stock for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to said frame portion, said stock members being provided with inletted surfaces to receive the grip portion of said frame and having external curved surfaces to provide a hand grip, a hand engaging flange curved in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said grip portion, one of said stock members being provided with parallel slots extending longitudinally thereof, a locking plate mounted on the inner surface of said stock member in back of said slotted openings and threaded fasteners extending through said hand engaging flange and into correspondingly threaded openings in said plate, whereby said flange may be adjusted to various positions and locked by said threaded fasteners.

6. In a stock for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to said grip portion having inletted inner surfaces to receive said grip portion and external curved surfaces to form a hand grip, at least one of said stock members being provided with a pair of spaced parallel slotted openings, a C-shaped flange adjustably mounted on the lower portion of one of said stock members to form an abutment to engage the heel of the hand when the stock members are gripped said C-shaped flange being provided with spaced apertures to register with said slotted openings, and threaded fastener elements extending through said apertures and slotted openings to secure said flange in an adjusted position.

7. In a stock for hand guns having a frame portion, opposed stock members secured to said frame portion, said stock members being externally curved to provide a hand grip, at least one of said stock members being provided with a pair of parallel spaced slotted openings, a C-shaped flange member adjustably secured to said one of said stock members and extending around the front and rear of said grip to overlap the edges of the opposite stock member, and threaded fastener elements extending through said apertures and slotted openings to adjustably secure said C-shaped flange in a predetermined position.

8. In a stock for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to said grip portion having an external rounded surface to form a hand grip, at least one of said stock members be ing provided with a pair of longitudinally extending spaced parallel slotted openings, a C-shaped flange member adjustably secured to the lower portion of one of said stock members with the ends overlapping the opposite stock member, said flange being provided with a dished surface to engage the lower heel portion of the users hand when the stock members are gripped, and threaded male and female fastener elements for securing said flange to said one stock member.

9. In a stock for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to said grip portion, said stock members being externally curved in a direction normal to their longitudinal axis to provide a hand grip, and at least one of said stock members being provided with a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending slotted openings, one of said stock members being provided with a projection adjacent its upper end to form an abutment for said hand grip, and an arcuate flange adjustably secured to the lower end of said one stock member adapted to be moved toward and away from said abutment to adjust the length of the grip surface of said stock members and threaded male and female fastener elements with the male fastener elements extending through apertures in said flange and slotted openings to secure said flange in an adjusted position.

10. In a stock for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to said grip portion, at least one of said stock members being provided with a pair of longitudinally extending parallel spaced slotted openings, a C-shaped flange member adjustably secured to the lower end of said one of said stock members, said flange member being provided with a dished surface to engage the lower heel edge of the hand when the stock members are gripped, and male and female threaded fastener elements for adjustably securing said C-shaped flange to said one stock member with the male fastener elements extending through spaced apertures in the flange and through said slotted openings.

11. In a stock for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to said grip portion, the external surfaces of said stock members being curved to form a hand grip for said hand gun, a C-shaped flange encircling the lower portion of said hand grip, one of said stock members being provided with an internal recess, a locking plate slidably mounted in said recess, and threaded fastener elements extending through said C-shaped flange member and through longitudinally slotted openings in said one stock member with their inner ends received in correspondingly threaded openings in said locking plate.

12. In a stock for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to said grip portion, at least one of said stock members being provided with a pair of spaced parallel slotted openings, a curved flange member adjustably secured to the upper end of said one of said stock members, said curved flange member being curved in a direction to extend around the upper portion of said one stock member and being provided with an under surface to conform to the shape of the upper portion of the hand when the stock members are gripped, said curved flange member being provided with a pair of apertures adapted to register with said slotted openings, and threaded fastener elements with the male elements extending through said 5% apertures and slotted openings to secure said flange member to said stock member.

13. In a stocl; for hand guns having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to said grip portion, one of said stock members being provided at its upper portion with a pair of longitudinal parallel slots, a curved flange member extending around the upper portion of said one stock member, threaded fastener elements extending through said curved flange member, a locking plate mounted in a recess, formed in the internal surface of said one stock member having openings to receive the ends of said threaded fasteners and said flange member being provided with an undersurface curved in two directions to form an abutment surface for the upper edge of the hand when said stock members are gripped.

14. In a stock for hand guns, having a frame provided with a grip portion, opposed stock members secured to said grip portion having external curved surfaces to provide a pistol grip, an arcuately curved flange member extending from the front of one of said grip members and around the rear edge thereof, one of said stock members being provided with spaced parallel slots extending in a References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,962,775 Jones June 12, 1934 2,036,925 Curtis Apr. 7, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 184,905 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1936 OTHER REFERENCES The Shooters Bible, 1940 ed., Stoeger Arms Corp, New York, N.Y., pp. 206 and 207.

The Shooters Bible, 1954 ed., Stoeger Arms Corp, Long Island City 1, N.Y., page 50. 

1. IN A STOCK FOR HAND GUNS HAVING A GRIP RECEIVING FRAME PORTION, A PAIR OF OPPOSED STOCK MEMBERS HAVING EXTERNAL HAND CONFORMING SURFACES, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID STOCK MEMBERS BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SPACED PARALLEL SLOTTED OPENINGS, FASTENER MEMBERS FOR SECURING SAID STOCK MEMBERS TO SAID FRAME PORTION, A LATERALLY EXTENDING HAND ENGAGING FLANGE ADJUSTABLY SECURED TO ONE OF SAID STOCK MEMBERS, AND MALE 